Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-12-13

tivity. One of the peculiarities OF
the Parker vein is the presence of an
immense amount of carbonaceous
material mixed with the gangue. 1t
seems to most resemble anthracite,
and Its presence is suggested by Pro
fessor Jenney to have resulted from
the distillation of neighboring organ
ic matter during the metamorphism
which allowed the vein to exist.
There are two eruptive dykes which
enclose the vein, and these are sup.
posed to have furnished the heat nee
essary to volatilize portions of ami
NAL or vegetable organisms, IN the
form Of a hydro ,arbon which was con-
densed in the vein and afterwards UNI
derwent partial decomposition, result
ing in anthracite. Other forms of de
composition, it is suggested, might
give rise to graphite, which has been
detected in many veins. This hypoth
esis of the derivation under certain
circumstances of graphite, anthracite
and various volatile hydrocarbons from
organic forms would appear to be
applicable as we'll to the question of
the origin of the graphite schists of
California, the graphite deposits of
the Sierra Nevada, and carbonaceous
residues in all sorts of mineral veins.
THE RED ELEPHANT PROPERTY.
Quite recently several claims lying
on the mountain above Bullion, and
seven miles by wagon road from Hal
ley, were bought by a New York
company of capitalists, who have
placed Colonel Bryan in charge and
are developing the property in a sys-
tematic manner. The circumstance
is worth abiding to in order to show
the mining people of Oregon how
differently the business of opening
mines is conducted in Wood River
and in Oregon. First, this association
having purchased the claims, set a
few miners to work, whose labor re.
suited in the almost immediate dis
covery of important ore bodies. I'm
medately the force was increased and
Colonel Bryan came to take persona
supervision. The very best miners
Ameritans-were employed to the
plumber of 20 or SO, and ample &C
commodations were provided fol
them. Their work thus far is mainl,
exploratory. That is, they are "open
ing" the mine by cutting drifts, build
ing tramways, doing outside work
etc.
Shortly after an eminent mining
engineer, John Parks, Of New Iorl
City, was sent out to give Colone
Eryan the benefit of his practica
and theoretical knowledge of mines
and he is now at the Red Elephant
engaged IN surveying the property
above ground and beneath, in map
ing it, and in selecting and surveyin!
site for concentrating plant, whic
will be built in due time-not, how
ever, until there is use for it, for, as t
general thing, the educated and ad
vanced mining engineers do not emu
late the Oregon miners in putting Il
mills, ETC., before they are required
Engineer Parks's work consists i
acquiring all available knowledg
concerning the Red Elephant, that i.
he is finding out all that is possibl
to learn about it, with a view of or
ganizing this information so as t
make it available in the future work
ing of the mines. AS to the consti
tuition of the ore his chemical analyse
will show that; as to its value pc
ton, his assays, carefully made o.
samples taken accurately and method
ically, will reveal that; his geological
inquiries into the nature of the coun
try rock will tell much Of value; an
finally, his mathematical measure
meuts Of ore bodies, of surfaces an
distances will place the working {
the claims in condition Of certainty
There will be no guess work in tn
development and working of the Re
Elephant mine. Here is an exampl
of foresight and business sense thu
miners further west will do well t
heed, accustomed as they are to tn
failures which presumptuous ignoranc
causes in our mining operations eac
year, and introduce the example O
account of its valuable application i
Northwestern mining practise.
We will continue tbs discussion {
Wood River mines and mining pra
tise in succeeding issues, and in COZ
nection Herewith will be presented
, resume of the work which is bein
: done in Wood River, and also in tt
, outlying districts, which each ye
are growing in importance.